March 2002 Volume 83 Number 3
"serving the protectors"
| March 2002 Volume 83 Number 3 "serving the protectors" |
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ChaplaincyGetting a right perspective |
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| By Bob George |
For the avid sports follower that I am, I find it all rather grim that Australia did not make the recent one-day cricket series finals, did not win the Davis Cup, and failed to qualify for the soccer world cup. Or, is it so grim?
On the scale of significance, does it really matter whether Australia wins or loses international sporting competitions, as long as it competes fairly and to the best of its ability, and enjoys the experience?
Whether Australia’s performance matters or not depends on your perspective of what is really important in life. Someone once suggested to me: “Never argue with a fool because they may be doing the same thing.” But in the light of current human suffering in Afghanistan, the Congo, Israel and Palestine, and closer to home with recent losses through bushfires and floods, a mere loss in a sporting event does pale into insignificance.
Getting a right perspective on life was brought home to me rather graphically many years ago in Darwin. It was well after the events of 1974, when I was chatting with a friend over dinner about his experience of Cyclone Tracey.
He vividly recounted the events of that terrifying Christmas Eve. At first, when the wind started to gust, he was worried about the rain blowing in through the windows and wetting the curtains and carpets. As the tempo of the wind and rain increased and various items were blowing around the yard, he was concerned about damage to the house itself.
As the cyclone intensified and he and his family sheltered in the bathroom, my friend was concerned about the safety of his family. Then, as the house started to disintegrate around him, he feared for his own life.
In a very short time, his values had dramatically changed. It often takes a crisis for us to get a right perspective on what is important and what is not.
Sometimes, we miss the significant and get hung up on the trivial. Jesus once said that everyone honours prophets, except those who are closest and should know better. It was only when Jesus’ friends and family got their perspective right, and saw him as more than a carpenter, that they gave the Son of God the loyalty and trust he richly deserved.
Getting a right perspective on life is important, otherwise we will tend to major on the minor things of life, and the ugly and bad, rather than the wholesome and good, will preoccupy us. In an environment where crime and offenders prevail, it is important that the spiritual dimension of our lives gets more than scant consideration or fleeting attention.
SA Police Chaplains
Welfare Section 58 David Marr 8364 3567 Senior Police Chaplain. Academy 8 Brenton Daulby 8272 8324 Adelaide: 158 Vacant Adelaide Hills Division 54 Adrian Stephens 8398 2510 Office: 8398 2517 Ceduna 214 Sybil Peacock 8625 3505 Christies Beach 20 Peter Coote 8381 3039 0412 818 995 Clare 202 Michael Dutschke 8842 3681 Communications 172 David Hand 8376 5612 Elizabeth 52 Lindsay Mayes 8281 8088 Far North 210 John Folkman 8672 5011 Firearms/Records Dianna Bartlett 8337 8552 Gawler 52 Brian Tscharke 8522 2288 Glenelg 22 Malcolm Thomas 8377 0772 Henley Beach 18 Tim Kowald 8449 6868 Holden Hill 44 Rod Dyson 8365 1170 Kadina 71 Vacant Kingston 208 Mount Gambier 208 Brian Ashworth (w) 8723 1353 (h) 8725 2537 Murray Bridge 200 Malcolm Bottrill 8532 5536 Naracoorte 208 Bruce Cliff 8737 2457 0417 811 702 Norwood 60 Lynton Wade 8362 2227 0418 831 703 Nuriootpa 204 Andy Kowald 8562 1011 Port Adelaide 6 Jeff Oake 8341 5930 Port Pirie 206 Steve Ardill 8632 3977 Prosecution Services 176 Vacant Port Augusta PS 210 Mark Thomas 8642 2487 0401 671 850 Port Lincoln 214 Peter King 8682 3725 Riverland 212 Robin Zadow 8588 1540 Salisbury 53 Vacant South East Terry Natt 8571 1114 Sturt 12 Chris Beal 8278 9578 Ian Dempsey 8296 7292 Tea Tree Gully 48 Bob George 8395 9363 Thebarton Barracks 32 Vacant Transit Division Rob Packer 8332 9155 Victor Harbor Graham Rogerson (h) 8552 1718 (w) 8552 5029 Whyalla 218 Tony Redden 8649 3593
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